International Business 7e

by Charles W.L. HillMcGraw-Hill/Irwin Copyright 2009 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter 11

The Global Capital Market

11-*

IntroductionThe rapid globalization of capital markets facilitates the free flow of money around the worldTraditionally, national capital markets have been separated by regulatory barriersTherefore, it was difficult for firms to attract foreign capitalMany regulatory barriers fell during the 1980s and 1990s, allowing the global capital market to emergeToday, firms can list their stock on multiple exchanges, raise funds by issuing equity or debt to investors from around the world, and attract capital from international investors

11-*

Benefits Of The Global Capital Market There are market functions that are shared by both domestic and international capital marketsHowever, global capital markets offer some benefits not found in domestic capital markets

11-*

Functions Of A Generic Capital MarketCapital markets bring together investors and borrowersInvestors include corporations with surplus cash, individuals, and non-bank financial institutionsBorrowers include individuals, companies, and governmentsMarkets makers are the financial service companies that connect investors and borrowers, either directly or indirectlyCommercial banks are indirect market makers, and investment banks are direct market makersCapital market loans can be equity (stock) or debt ( cash loans or bonds)

11-*

Classroom Performance SystemWhich of the following are market makers?

a) commercial banksb) pension funds c) insurance companiesd) governments

11-*

Functions Of A Generic Capital MarketFigure 11.1: The Main Players in a Generic Capital Market

11-*

Attractions Of The Global Capital Market Borrowers benefit from:the additional supply of funds global capital markets providethe associated lower cost of capital (the price of borrowing money or the rate of return that borrowers pay investors)

The cost of capital is lower in international markets because the pool of investors is much larger than in the domestic capital market

11-*

Attractions Of The Global Capital MarketFigure 11.2: Market Liquidity and the Cost of Capital

11-*

Attractions Of The Global Capital MarketInvestors also benefit from the wider range of investment opportunities in global capital markets that allow them to diversify their portfolios and lower their risks Studies show that fully diversified portfolios are only about 27 percent as risky as individual stocksInternational portfolio diversification is even less risky because the movements of stock prices across countries are not perfectly correlated This low correlation reflects the differences in nations macroeconomic policies and economic policies and how their stock markets respond to different forces, and nations restrictions on cross-border capital flows

11-*

Attractions Of The Global Capital MarketFigure 11.3: Risk Reduction through Portfolio Diversification

11-*

Classroom Performance SystemCompared to developed nations, less developed nations have

a) smaller capital marketsb) more investment opportunitiesc) similar costs of capitald) greater liquidity

11-*

Classroom Performance SystemWhich of the following is not true of global capital markets a) they benefit borrowersb) they benefit sellersc) they raise the cost of capitald) they provide a wider range of investment opportunities

11-*

Growth Of The Global Capital MarketGlobal capital markets are growing at a rapid paceIn 1990, the stock of cross-border bank loans was just $3,600 billionBy 2006, the stock of cross border bank loans was $17,875 billionThe international bond market shows a similar pattern with $3,515 billion in outstanding international bonds in 1997, and $17, 561 billion in 2006 International equity offerings were $18 billion in 1997 and $377 billion in 2006

11-*

Classroom Performance SystemIn 2006, the stock of cross-border bank loans was about

a) $3,600b) $7,800c) $17,800d) $33,600

11-*

Growth Of The Global Capital MarketTwo factors are responsible for the growth of capital markets:1. advances in information technology the growth of international communications technology and advances in data processing capabilities Financial services companies now engage in 24-hour-day trading the international capital market never sleepsHowever, this also means that shocks that occur in one financial market spread around the globe very quickly

11-*

Growth Of The Global Capital Market2. deregulation by governments has facilitated growth in the international capital marketsTraditionally, governments have limited the ability of foreign investors to purchase significant equity positions in domestic companies, and the amount of foreign investment citizens could makeSince the 1980s, these restrictions have been falling in response to the development of the Eurocurrency market, and also pressure from financial services companiesDeregulation began in the United States, then moved on to other countries including Great Britain, Japan, and France

11-*

Classroom Performance SystemHistorically, the most tightly regulated industry has been

a) agricultureb) consumer electronics c) automotivesd) financial services

11-*

Growth Of The Global Capital MarketMany countries have also dismantled capital controls making it easier for both inward and outward investment to occurThis trend has spread from the developed world to the emerging nationsThe global capital market is expected to continue to grow

11-*

Global Capital Market RisksSome analysts worry that the deregulation of capital markets and loosening of controls on cross-border capital flows make individual nations more vulnerable to the destabilizing effects of speculative capital flowsSpeculative capital flows may be the result of inaccurate information about investment opportunitiesIf global capital markets continue to grow, better quality information is likely to be available from financial intermediaries

11-*

The Eurocurrency MarketA eurocurrency is any currency banked outside of its country of originAbout two-thirds of all eurocurrencies are Eurodollars (dollars banked outside the United States)Other important eurocurrencies are the euro-yen, the euro-pound, and the euro-euro

11-*

Classroom Performance SystemThe term eurocurrency refers to

a) the currency used by the European Union countriesb) any currency banked outside its country of originc) currencies purchased in the international equities marketd) bonds sold outside the borrowers country that are denominated in the currency of the country in which they are issued

11-*

Genesis And Growth Of The MarketThe eurocurrency market began in the 1950s when the Eastern bloc countries were afraid the United States might seize their holdings of dollarsSo, instead of depositing their dollars in the United States, they deposited them in EuropeAdditional dollar deposits came from Western European central banks and companies that exported to the United States In 1957, the market surged again after changes in British lawsToday, London continues to be the leading center of the eurocurrency market

11-*

Growth Of The Global Capital MarketIn the 1960s, the market grew once again when, after changes in U.S. regulations discouraged U.S. banks from lending to non-U.S. residents, would-be borrowers of dollars outside the United States turned to the euromarket as a source of dollars The next big increase in the eurocurrency market came after the 1973-74 and 1979-80 oil price increasesOPEC members avoided potential confiscation of their dollars by depositing them in banks in London

11-*

Attractions Of The Eurocurrency MarketThe eurocurrency market is attractive to depositors and borrowers because it is not regulated by the governmentThis means that banks can offer higher interest rates on eurocurrency deposits than on deposits made in the home currencySimilarly, banks can also charge lower interest rates to eurocurrency borrowers than to those who borrow the home currencyThe spread between the eurocurrency deposit and lending rates is less than the spread between the domestic deposit and lending rates giving eurocurrency banks a competitive edge over domestic banks

11-*

Attractions Of The Eurocurrency MarketFigure 11.4: Interest Rate Spreads in Domestic and Eurocurrency Markets

11-*

Drawbacks Of The Eurocurrency MarketThe eurocurrency market has two drawbacks:1. because the eurocurrency market is unregulated, there is a higher risk of bank failure2. companies borrowing eurocurrencies can be exposed to foreign exchange risk

11-*

The Global Bond MarketThe global bond market grew rapidly during the 1980s and 1990sThe most common kind of bond is a fixed rate bond which gives investors fixed cash payoffs

There are two types of international bonds:1. foreign bonds are sold outside the borrowers country and are denominated in the currency of the country in which they are issued2. eurobonds are underwritten by a syndicate of banks and placed in countries other than the one in whose currency the bond is denominated

11-*

Attractions Of The Eurobond Market The eurobond market is attractive for three main reasons:1. it lacks regulatory interference since companies do not have to adhere to strict regulations, the cost of issuing bonds is lower2. it has less stringent disclosure requirements than domestic bond markets it can be cheaper and less time consuming to offer eurobonds than to issue dollar-denominated bonds3. it is more favorable from a tax perspective eurobonds can be sold directly to foreign investors

11-*

The Global Equity MarketThe largest equity markets are in the United States, Britain, and JapanToday, many investors invest in foreign equities to diversify their portfoliosIn the future, this type of trend may result in an internationalization of corporate ownershipCompanies are also helping to promote this type of shift by listing their stock in the equity markets of other nationsBy issuing stock in other countries, firms open the door to raising capital in the foreign market, and give the firm the option of compensating local managers and employees with stock

11-*

Foreign Exchange Risk And The Cost Of CapitalAdverse exchange rates can increase the cost of foreign currency loansWhile it may initially seem attractive to borrow foreign currencies, when exchange rate risk is factored in, that can changeFirms can hedge their risk by entering into forward contracts to purchase the necessary currency and lock in the exchange rate, but this will also raise costsFirms must weigh the benefits of a lower interest rate against the risk of an increase in the real cost of capital due to adverse exchange rate movements

11-*

Implications For ManagersGrowth in global capital markets has created opportunities for firms to borrow or invest internationallyFirms can often borrow at a lower cost than in the domestic capital marketFirms must balance the foreign exchange risk associated with borrowing in foreign currencies against the costs savings that may existThe growth of capital markets also offers opportunities for firms, institutions, and individuals to diversify their investments and reduce riskAgain, though investors must consider foreign exchange rate risk

In 2006, some $6.5 trillion a year was flowing across national borders. This number is expected to grow by 11 percent annually. Market makers include commercial banks like Citicorp and investment banks like Bear Stearns and Merrill Lynch.The answer is a.Capital market loans includeEquity loans- when corporations sell stock to investorsDebt loans - when a corporation borrows money and agrees to repay a predetermined portion of the loan amount at regular intervals regardless of how much profit it is making

In a purely domestic capital market the pool of investors is limited to residents of the country. ThisPlaces an upper limit on the supply of funds availableIncreases the cost of capital

Management Focus: Deutsche Telekom Taps the Global Capital Market

SummaryThis feature examines Deutsche Telekoms privatization strategy. Deutsche Telekom, one of the worlds largest telephone companies was state-owned until 1996 when the decision was made to privatize the company in order to increase efficiency and be in a better position to face the greater competition the deregulation of the European Unions telecommunications sector was expected to create. Discussion of the feature can revolve around the following questions:

Suggested Discussion Questions1. Why did Deutsche Telekom feel it was necessary to take its Initial Public Offering outside the German market?Discussion Points: Deutsche Telekom was valued at about $60 billion. At this level of valuation, it would be significantly bigger than any other company on the German stock exchange. In fact, analysts believed that it would be nearly impossible to raise that sum in Germany. Most Germans shied away from stock ownership, and in any case, because many other companies were also being privatized, there was significant competition for investment money.

2. Deutsche Telekom listed its shares in Frankfurt, London, New York, and Tokyo. What are the advantages listing on so many different exchanges?Discussion Points: Many students will probably focus on the fact that the companys Initial Public Offering was the largest in European history, and the second largest in the world ever. By listing on all four exchanges, Deutsche Telekom had a bigger base of potential investors.

Another Perspective: For more information on Deutsche Telekom, go to the companys web site at {http://www.telekom.com/dtag/cms/content/dt/un/english}. A fully diversified portfolio that contains stocks from many countries is less than half as risky as a fully diversified portfolio that contains only U.S. stocks. The answer is a.The answer is c.The answer is c.The answer is d. Country Focus: Did the Global Capital Markets Fail Mexico

SummaryThis feature explores Mexicos economic problems in the mid-1990s. Mexico went from being a strong developing country with a good future to a country facing a financial crisis. Discussion of the feature can revolve around the following questions:

Suggested Discussion Questions1. How did Mexicos financial fortunes turn negative so quickly in the 1990s. Discussion Points: Mexico went from being one of the most admired developing countries of the world, to one in a crisis. Much of the blame for this situation probably lies with the countrys trade deficit, which had been growing annually. As long as the money earned from trade was being reinvested, things were fine. But when events in the U.S. took investors by surprise, Mexican investments became riskier, and many short-term investors began to pull their money out, leaving the government without the means to maintain its current account deficit.

2. What steps could Mexico have taken to prevent the type of financial crisis it experienced in the 1990s? Discussion Points: Some students will probably argue that Mexico should have done a better job of managing its money so that its accounts were balanced rather than in deficit. Others students might suggest that even with the trade deficit, had Mexico promoted its long-term investment opportunities, it might have avoided the crisis. The answer is b.Foreign bonds sold in the United States are called Yankee bonds.Foreign bonds sold in Japan are Samurai bonds.Foreign bonds sold in Great Britain are bulldogs.Country Focus: The Search for Capital in the Czech Republic

SummaryThis feature explores the difficulties firms face raising capital in the Czech Republic. Although the Czech Republic was initially seen as a vibrant economy following the collapse of communism, macroeconomic problems caused the country to fall out of favor with investors. In addition, the Prague stock exchange was the target of allegations of financial misconduct, a situation which effectively raised the cost of capital for Czech firms. Discussion of the feature can revolve around the following questions:

1. What are the advantages to Czech firms of listing their equity on the London stock exchange? Discussion Points: Because of the improprieties surrounding the Prague stock exchange, Czech firms have little choice but to go outside the country to raise capital. By listing on the London exchange, Czech firms have access to a wider pool of investors and a probably a lower cost of capital. 2. Can you see any disadvantages to this strategy?Discussion Points: Some students will probably point out that by making the decision to list on the London stock exchange, Czech companies are also making a commitment to ensuring that it is complying with British accounting methods, and so raises its cost of capital.